Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

With that single insight, Richard gasped with sudden realization.

He understood.

He stood frozen, eyes wide, unable to move, as the sequence of events and scraps of information from that morning tumbled together in his mind, forming a framework of comprehension of what had happened. They had been taking Kahlan, probably using a spell of some sort on her, as they did to keep Richard asleep, then collected her things and tidied up the camp to erase evidence of her having been there. That was the movement he remembered. It hadn't been tree limbs moving back and forth in the near darkness, it had been people. Gifted people.

Richard saw a red glow. When he looked up, Nicci was coming into the small room.

"Richard, I need to talk to you."

He stared at her. "I understand. I know what the viper with four heads means."

Nicci's gaze turned away, as if she couldn't bear to look into his eyes. He knew that she thought he was merely adding another layer to his delusion.

"Richard, listen to me. This is important."

He frowned at her. "Have you been crying?"

Her eyes were red and puffy. Nicci was not the sort of woman given to tears. He had seen her cry, but only for very good reason.

"Never mind that," she said. "You have to listen to me."

"Nicci, I'm telling you, I've figured out.»

"Listen to me!" Fists at her sides, she looked as if she might again burst into tears. He realized that he had never seen her looking quite this distraught.

He didn't want to waste any more time, but he decided that it might hurry things along if he let her have her say.

"All right, I'm listening."

Nicci stepped close and gripped him by both shoulders. With an intent expression, she peered into his eyes. Her brow wrinkled with conviction.

"Richard, you have to get out of here."

"What?"

"I've already told Cara to collect your things. She's bringing them now.

She said she knows her way down here, down into the tower, anyway, without having to go through shields."

"I know, I taught her before." Richard's sense of alarm began to rise. "What's going on? Is the Keep under attack? Is Zedd all right?"

Nicci cupped one hand to the side of his face. "Richard, they are determined to heal you of your delusion."

"Kahlan is no delusion. I just now figured out what happened."

She seemed not to notice what he said, or maybe she was ignoring what she thought was no more than yet another in a long series of attempts to prove the impossible. This time, though, he wasn't really interested in proving it to her.

"Richard, I'm telling you, you have to get out of here. They wanted me to use Subtractive Magic to eliminate your memory of Kahlan."

Richard blinked in surprise. "You mean Ann and Nathan want to do that. Zedd never would."

"Zedd too. They convinced him that you're sick and the only way to heal you is to excise what they consider to be the diseased portion of your thoughts responsible for your false memories. They convinced Zedd that time is running out and this is the only way to save you. Zedd is so heartbroken to see you like this that he has snatched at what he thinks may be the only chance to make you well again."

"And you agreed to this?"

She indignantly smacked the side of his shoulder. "Are you crazy? Do you really think I would do that to you? Even if I thought they were right, do you seriously think I would ever consider taking away part of who you are? After what you've shown me about life? After what you have done to bring me back to embracing life? Do you really think that I would do that to you, Richard?"

"No, I guess you wouldn't do such a thing. But why would Zedd? He loves me."

"He is also terrified for you, terrified that you are being taken over by this delusion, or bewitchment, or whatever is causing this sickness that is leaving you alive but not really yourself, turning you into a stranger they don't know.

"Zedd feels that this might be their only chance to ever have you whole again, to ever have you be Richard, the real Richard, again.

"I don't think that any of them-Ann, Nathan, or Zedd-really wants to do this, but Ann truly believes that you alone are the salvation for our cause. She has faith that prophecy has revealed this as the only chance we have and she is desperate to make you well lest we all be lost.

"Zedd was reluctant, but then they showed him a message in the journey book and talked him into it."

"What message?"

"Verna is with the D'Haran troops. She sent word that our soldiers are becoming disheartened that you haven't joined them. Verna fears that unless you are there to lead them they may choose not to go on. She sent a desperate message wanting to know if Ann had found you yet, trying to find out when you could be expected to join your men in the coming battle with the Imperial Order."

Richard was stunned. "I suppose I can understand why the three of them are so worried, but to ask you to use Subtractive Magic.»